Patrick L

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Ancient Rome

Here's my project:

http://prezi.com/fpjk_gahqaqi/lead-poisoning-roman-time-machine/?kw=view-fpjk_gahqaqi&rc=ref-3313018

  • Rome relied on the use of lead to make their pipes because it was malleable and had a low melting point.
  • The use of lead was mainly for to get water from reservoirs to fountains by using aqueducts with pipes.
  • Most members of aristocracy died because of lead poisoning.
  • Archaeologists found a lead pipe that lead to the Roman Forum that was 1750 meters long and had 232,750 kilograms of lead
  • Lead was mostly used for pipes in aqueducts.
  • Lead was used in wine to enhance the taste.
  • A sweetener called sapa or defrutum had high amounts of lead was used in many foods and was also used in wone.
  • Also, lead was often used in eating utensils as well.
  • Lead was used to line cooking pots and pans made with copper to get rid of the copper’s taste.
  • The smithies and the families who smelted lead often were sick
  • Lead causes Saturnine gout. Gout causes arthritis and many other complications.
  • Emperor Domitian had a fountain installed in his palace to dispense wine that has massive amounts of lead.
  • Romans liked to use lead in foods because it had a sweet taste.
  • Romans were aware of the effects of lead, but thought that consuming lead in small amounts would be OK.
  • Archaeologists have found very high amounts of lead in Romans' bones.
  • Also, lead levels were at their highest during the Romans' time period.
  • Wells close to lead mines were heavily polluted.

Present

  • Lead poisoning can affect brain development, and can damage the kidneys, the liver, bone tissue and the nervous system. Very high levels of lead can cause seizures, and unconsciousness. Leasd poisoning also causes headaches, irratibility, reduced sensations, aggressive behavior, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
  • Some more symptoms with loss of appetite, a metallic taste in the mouth, a grey “lead line” on the gums in cases of poor oral hygiene, and severe constipation
  • The most common pipes that transport liquids are PVC Pipe, Ductile Iron Pipe and HDPE Pipe.
  • Some ways to prevent lead poisoning are:
  • Wipe and rinse toys with warm, soapy water often; wash pacifiers and bottles any time they fall on the floor.
  • Children's hands should be washed frequently, especially before eating and sleeping, and after playing. Keep the kid's play areas very clean.
  • Teach your children not to eat sand or dirt.
  • Don't scrape, sand, or burn painted wood.
  • Common uses for lead nowadays are:batteries, paint, ammunition, and metals.
  • Lead also makes a long lasting roofing material.
  • Modern lead mines produce about 3 million metric tons of lead annually. This is only about half the lead used worldwide; the remainder is obtained by recycling. The top producer of lead is Australia, followed by the United States, China, and Canada. Other countries with major lead deposits are Mexico, Peru, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
  • Story:
  • US battery giant Johnson Controls will stop lead processing at a plant in China’s commercial hub Shanghai, the firm said, after the city found high levels of the metal in children living nearby. In February, Shanghai blamed Johnson Controls and two Chinese companies for causing lead poisoning in 49 children, most of them aged between one and three.
  • Laws:
  • Each licensed, registered or approved health care facility serving children under six years of age, including but not limited to hospitals and clinics licensed under the provisions of section fifty-one of chapter one hundred and eleven and health maintenance organizations approved under the provisions of chapter one hundred and seventy-six G, shall take appropriate steps to ensure that their patients receive such lead poisoning screening.

Possible Solutions

  • They could replace their lead pipes that are in aqueducts to PVC pipes. PVC is an acronym for polyvinyl chloride, and is made of plastic and vinyl. PVC was first discovered in 1925, and after a decade, people discovered that it had great shock-absorbing abilities, which sparked its use in tires. After that, PVC pipe was invented. They heated PVC and used a machine called an extruder to make the pipe. The PVC pipe that is created is virtually indestructible, and can resist extreme bending. It has also been found that PVC can resist bacteria, which could prevent many diseases and outbreaks from reaching Rome and potentially saving thousands of lives. Also, PVC is not comprised of lead, and will not create any lead poisoning.
  • Today, we use water filters to get rid of bacteria an other harmful organisms from our water. I would suggest Rome use water filters for their homes. There are drinking water filters, and home water filters (for showering and tap water). This would eliminate lead poisoning and other bacteria too.
  • We can also raise awareness of the problem of lead poisoning so people could prevent lead contact.

Email To Expert

Dear Dr. Paulsen,

Hello! My name is Patrick Liu and I am a 7th grade student that goes to Nagel Middle School in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am currently researching lead poisoning and how it effects us, and I think you could help me greatly. Here are some questions that I would like you answer:
  1. What is the main source of lead poisoning?
  2. What can we do to prevent lead poisoning?
  3. How common are lead poisoning cases today?
I would really appreciate you answering these questions, as it would be a great help to my research.Thank you for your time!


Sincerely,Patrick Liu
Reply

Hi Patrick,

Hope you are well. I work with Dr. Paulson and hope I can answer your questions on lead poisoning.
  1. What is the main source of lead poisoning?
The main source of lead poisoning today is from paint, specifically eating or breathing in paint chips or dust from older homes. Other sources include drinking water from pipes containing lead, eating food grown on soil that is contaminated with lead dust or inhaling lead from industrial sources, such as smelters.
  1. What can we do to prevent lead poisoning?
As children are most commonly exposed to lead through lead paint chips and dust in their homes, making sure that homes are lead-safe is the most effective way to prevent lead poisoning.
  1. How common are lead poisoning cases today?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are around four million households that have children living in them who are exposed to lead paint, and around 500,000 children who have unhealthy blood lead levels.
I hope this helps! Our website has more information about lead: http://childrensnational.org/MACCHE/ResourcesAndTutorials/Lead.aspx

Best of luck with your studies.

Thanks,

Veronica Tinney

Strategic Plan


Name: Patrick Liu



Use all the information you have researched about your assigned Roman & current problem to formulate a plan that will work towards fixing the problem in Rome using today’s resources.



Fill in this strategic plan outline to help you create a solution for the Roman Emperor.





Causes of the problem in Rome:
  • Lead pipes
  • Lead eating utensils
  • Lead-lined pots
  • Lead sweeteners for their food







Why the Romans could not solve their problem:
The Romans couldn’t solve their problem because they couldn’t find an alternative material that was as plentiful and easy to make as lead. Also, it would be to much of a hassle to replace all of the pipes with an alternative material.







Similar problem today: (brief description)
US battery giant Johnson Controls will stop lead processing at a plant in China’s commercial hub Shanghai, the firm said, after the city found high levels of the metal in children living nearby. In February, Shanghai blamed Johnson Controls and two Chinese companies for causing lead poisoning in 49 children, most of them aged between one and three.







Technology, resources, people, information & laws that contribute to the solution of the current problem
Doctors, journalists, water filters, alternative piping materials,
Laws:
Each licensed, registered or approved health care facility serving children under six years of age, including but not limited to hospitals and clinics licensed under the provisions of section fifty-one of chapter one hundred and eleven and health maintenance organizations approved under the provisions of chapter one hundred and seventy-six G, shall take appropriate steps to ensure that their patients receive such lead poisoning screening.
This law is from Massachusetts







How Rome can use today’s resources to solve their problems: (Your Solution)
  • They could replace their lead pipes that are in aqueducts to PVC pipes. PVC is an acronym for polyvinyl chloride, and is made of plastic and vinyl. PVC was first discovered in 1925, and after a decade, people discovered that it had great shock-absorbing abilities, which sparked its use in tires. After that, PVC pipe was invented. They heated PVC and used a machine called an extruder to make the pipe. The PVC pipe that is created is virtually indestructible, and can resist extreme bending. It has also been found that PVC can resist bacteria, which could prevent many diseases and outbreaks from reaching Rome and potentially saving thousands of lives. Also, PVC is not comprised of lead, and will not create any lead poisoning.
  • Today, we use water filters to get rid of bacteria and other harmful organisms from our water. I would suggest Rome use water filters for their homes. There are drinking water filters, and home water filters (for showering and tap water). This would eliminate lead poisoning and other bacteria too.
  • We can also raise awareness of the problem of lead poisoning so people could prevent lead contact.



Citations

  1. Benaroch, Roy, MD. "Children's Health." Prevent Lead Poisoning. WebMD LLC, 5 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  2. Hansen, Roger D. "WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS IN IMPERIAL ROME." WaterHistory.org. WaterHistory.org, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2013

  3. "How Products Are Made." How Lead Is Made. N.p., 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  4. "Pipe Materials." Pipe Materials. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  5. "LEAD POISONING IN ANCIENT ROME." African Journals Online. N.p., 2005. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  6. "U.S. Battery Firm Bars Lead at Chinese Plant after Poison Claims | The Raw Story."U.S. Battery Firm Bars Lead at Chinese Plant after Poison Claims | The Raw Story. N.p., 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  7. Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  8. "What Is PVC Pipe?" WiseGEEK. N.p., 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

  9. "Uses of Lead." Geology.com: News and Information for Geology & Earth Science. Geology.com, 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.